So a news organization tried to contact someone involved in a story and people are going to go straight to bullying and blackmail?
well, bear in mind that there isn't really a reason to contact him. he made a wrestling edit. plenty of those around. the story's not about the creator at all and there's plenty more that have been made ever since with Trump and CNN.
but the story reads as the news organization he edited getting beat proceeded to find who made the gif, dig into all his posts on reddit, identify who he was, get his phone number, his email, contacted him on both, and then he happens to make an apology post and deletes everything.
if they simply wanted to talk to him they could've stopped at just seeing who made the gif - reddit has a PM system. just use that. no need to get his name, number, and personal email. that's where they crossed the line and why plenty of people immediately jump to blackmail, it ain't just the donald there. the circumstances just make CNN look ridiculously petty.
It doesnt matter how many more have been created since then because the president didnt use those to attack a news organization he doesnt like. Trump using it made it the center of attention and people are going to dig into every angle they can to get more details for their story. So yes there is a reason to contact him and the phone or email are better suited for that than a pm on reddit. It is amazing that contacting someone to try and get their side of the story is now somehow bullying, blackmail, or extortion.
It is amazing saying you won't release their public information cuz they are doing what you want but you may do so if that should change is being defended by anyone. But, surprise surprise... the literal left is defending the literal left news agency. The twitter world is going nuts over it on both sides. But not our resident ultra liberals. Its just so blatant that its hard to take you serious.
If it is a kid, I would expect a lawsuit from a smart family. CNN just comes off so badly here.
Yeah so no matter what he does in the future they are supposed to bind themselves to never reporting on him by his real name? So if someday he runs for congress, kills somebody, or invents the next world changing product CNN should always refer to him by his reddit handle? ---